A total of 288 patients are on trolleys in accident and emergency units across the State today waiting for admission to a bed, according to the Irish Nurses' Organisation.
Cork University Hospital is the worst affected, with 29 patients waiting to be admitted, while 26 people are waiting on trolleys at Tallaght Hospital, with 25 waiting in Beaumont.
The acting head of the Health Service Executive, Mr Kevin Kelly, is visiting the A&E unit at Beaumont Hospital today.
A spokeswoman for the Executive said the visit was "routine" and that Mr Kelly would be visiting hospitals throughout the country as part of his job.
